Smarter Surf (virus) - Free Guide
Smarter Surf Removal Guide
What is Smarter Surf?
Smarter Surf is a browser extension that acts as adware and causes unwanted activity
Smarter Surf, categorized as adware,[1] is a form of potentially unwanted software[2] that can significantly disrupt users' browsing experiences. Though its name implies that it will enhance web browsing, its true intent is completely different. This adware aggressively overwhelms users with a bombardment of invasive and frequently pointless banners, pop-ups, and other adverts.
These advertisements appear in a variety of formats, such as coupon pop-ups, in-text adverts, and interstitials, making Smarter Surf a major cause of annoyance for people who are affected. Concerns over privacy are sparked by Smarter Surf's capacity to acquire specific user data in addition to its invasive ad presentation.
Smarter Surf may track user activity on the internet, such as websites visited and search terms used, which could result in the gathering of private data. Therefore, in order to defend against such dangers, it is advised to avoid using adware like Smarter Surf and to constantly use trustworthy antivirus or anti-malware tools.
| NAME | Smarter Surf |
| TYPE | Adware |
| SYMPTOMS | Annoying pop-ups and other types of advertisements start appearing on the screen |
| DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations |
| DANGERS | Links embedded in the ads might lead to dangerous websites |
| ELIMINATION | Eliminate the extension through your browser settings; scanning the machine with anti-malware tools is recommended |
| FURTHER STEPS | Use FortectIntego to get rid of any remaining damage and to optimize the machine |
Distribution methods
The fact that crooks frequently try to pass off their software as useful tools emphasizes how crucial it is to do extensive research. Since apps listed in official app stores are subject to stringent review procedures, we always advise utilizing them. However, it's critical to read user reviews, evaluate ratings, and take the number of users into account.
Sometimes, in an attempt to entice users to download their apps, crooks create “official” promotional websites for them as well. It's important to keep in mind that, in most cases, offers that seem too good to be true are. Furthermore, it's critical to adopt safe browsing practices.
Refrain from clicking on random links and ads, even if they seem to be promoting legal goods and services. You should also avoid going to questionable websites. It is best to stay on pages that you are acquainted with and trust because unregulated websites frequently have clever redirects and misleading advertisements.
Freeware installations
People often start to experience unwanted side effects after using freeware distribution websites. It's quite conceivable that you are unaware that Smarter Surf adware has compromised your device. In order to make money, malicious download sites frequently include extra programs in their installers.
Most of the time, users do not receive any benefits from bundled software. It is imperative that you proceed with caution when installing. Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation, and read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy carefully. Examining the list of files and checking the boxes next to any apps that don't seem connected is the most important step.
Remove Smarter Surf adware
Smarter Surf adware can be removed by going to the browser settings and looking at the extension list. We recommend removing plugins one by one to see if you notice any changes.
Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Safari
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Protect your privacy
Nowadays, almost every website and web application asks for permission to accept cookies,[3] frequently with an annoying message that obscures your view. It makes sense that a lot of users quickly click “Accept” to proceed out of annoyance. In the event that you have unintentionally come across pop-up spam, it is quite probable that you were visiting questionable websites that may still be monitoring your online activities.
Cookies can record a variety of information, such as the URLs you've clicked, the websites you've visited, the searches you've done, and the things you've bought online. There is a chance that advertising networks or other third parties will purchase this data. We advise using a repair program such as FortectIntego, which can automatically delete cookies and cache from your browser, free up disk space, fix corrupted files, fix system issues, and improve the speed of your device.
Scan your system with anti-malware tools
Check your system for additional potentially unwanted programs (PUAs) if you've tried all the preceding solutions and the undesired symptoms persist. Before any PUP may make changes to your device, we advise using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes anti-malware software. They will perform a thorough scan, remove any risks found, and issue alerts to help avoid future infections.
Manual removal of potentially unwanted programs can sometimes result in the reoccurrence of the infection, as users may overlook certain related files and entries. In addition, these programs are frequently disguised as “helpful” resources by fraudsters, making them difficult to spot. For Windows and Mac computers, we provide the following methods if you still prefer manual removal:
Windows 10/8:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
How to prevent from getting adware
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
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- ^ Adware. Malwarebytes. Cybersecurity Basics.
- ^ Potentially unwanted program. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- ^ Dusan Vasic. What Are Cookies? The Good and the Bad of Browser Cookies. Dataprot. Security Solutions.